Maoist leaders caution against rushing for unification with UML

KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Second-rung leaders of CPN (Maoist Center) have cautioned the party against rushing for unification with CPN-UML unless there is a clear agreement on power sharing at hand.

Both the parties have started talks on possible merger between the two largest parties and power-sharing deal, but concerns over party’s standing and portfolio in the merged unit looms ahead.

Various Maoist Center leaders, during the Party’s central secretariat meeting on Monday, have stressed on sorting out issues related to party leadership before initiative the unity process so as to avoid any possible conflicts in future.

Maoist Center is keen to embrace collective leadership but some leaders of UML like Ishwor Pokhrel, General Secretary of the party, have stressed on single party leadership. Pokhrel, earlier this week, said that prime minister, party chair and parliamentary party leader should be the same person or there would be multiple centers within the party. Though he said that it was his personal opinion, it certainly invited some waves within the Maoist Center, who is expecting some respectable status in the new party.

Some leaders of both parties have said that both UML Chair KP Oli and Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal would head the government for two-and-half-years each in line based on mutual consent, reported Republica.

Bhim Rawal talking to Reporters’ Club Nepal on Monday also said that Oli and Dahal would divide position of prime minister and party chair between each other in consensus.

It has also been reported that Maoist Center would get the position of President and House Speaker after the party merger.

Maoist Center Spokesperson, Pampha Bhusal agreed that there were differencing views and challenges between the two parties regarding the merger process, but she clarified that the unity process will go as planned as the people have already accepted the left alliance and left unity process.